Makarska
Makarska is a harbor town on Croatia's Adriatic coast, with a palm-lined promenade below the steep Biokovo mountains.
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Makarska is a town on Croatia's Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, about 60 km southeast of Split and 140 km northwest of Dubrovnik. It sits on a horseshoe-shaped bay, with the Biokovo mountains rising steeply behind it. The town is the center of the Makarska Riviera, a stretch of coast about 60 km long between Brela and Gradac.
The main draws are the beaches, the palm-lined promenade along the harbor and the walk out to the Sv. Petar peninsula, which has a church and sea views. In town, St. Mark's Cathedral on the Main Square is a 17th-century church, and the Franciscan monastery has a library of rare incunabula. Biokovo Nature Park draws hikers and nature walkers, and the Osejava park forest is a green area next to town. Summer days are about 30 °C and often reach 35 °C, so spring or early autumn suits walking better.
Makarska in five
- Plan Biokovo around the vehicle limitThe park lists entry for 20 vehicles every full hour on its one-lane road, 13 km and about 30 minutes from reception to Skywalk. Buy tickets in the park web shop or join a minibus tour.Biokovo Nature Park
- Check Biokovo's season before you promise the viewThe park is not officially open from 1 November to 31 March. From May to August it opens 6:00 to 20:00, and in October 8:00 to 18:00, with the last entry an hour earlier.
- Take the Sumartin ferry to BračJadrolinija line 638 links Makarska and Sumartin on Brač in 60 minutes. It puts the island within a day trip and avoids a detour via Split.Brač Island
- Use Makarska as the midpoint of the coastThe park's distance table puts Makarska 59 km from Split and 151 km from Dubrovnik by road. It splits the drive and gives a beach stop between the two cities.Split
- Check which road your bus takes toward DubrovnikThe Pelješac Bridge lets road traffic bypass the Bosnian town of Neum. A route through Neum crosses an external Schengen border twice, so carry your passport and read the EES guide.EES explained
Need to know
- Airport
- Split (SPU); Makarska is 59 km from Split city by road
- Getting there
- Bus or car on the coast road; ferry from Sumartin (Brač)
- Getting around
- Walkable town; buses along the Riviera; car for Biokovo
- Best base
- Makarska; quieter coves at Brela or Baška Voda
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Mild, Biokovo closedJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Biokovo closed
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Mild, Biokovo closedFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 179 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Biokovo closed
- MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Cool, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 205 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, showers
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Spring, park opensAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, park opens
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Warm, calmMayRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm seaJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Hot, busiestJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberRain9 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm sea, quieterSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 166 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, quieter
- OctoberRain9 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 187 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 348 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Mild, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Makarska, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Makarska
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 51%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Makarska
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°12°98%Monday: Rain. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue18°15°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Wed18°14°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu18°14°0%Thursday: Clear. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri17°12°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat16°12°15%Saturday: Rain. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sun15°13°24%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 24%.
Updated 07:05 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- MaySudamjaSplit, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Biokovo Skywalkabout 30 minutes by mountain roadA glass-floored viewpoint above the Riviera, open on set hours April to October.
- Bračabout 1 hour by ferry from SumartinStone towns and Vidova Gora on the island opposite.Read the guide
- Split59 km by roadDiocletian's Palace and the Riva.Read the guide
Before you go to Makarska
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Rules for Makarska, checked
- Biokovo Nature Park: Apr 7–19, May–Aug 6–20, Sep 7–19, Oct 8–18 (last entry 1 hour before); not officially open 1 Nov–31 Mar.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Biokovo road: entry for 20 vehicles every full hour; 13 km and about 30 minutes from reception to the Skywalk viewpoint.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Jadrolinija line 638 Sumartin (Brač)–Makarska takes 60 minutes; the ticket is also a reservation for the chosen departure.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Makarska
Across the water by the Sumartin ferry
Read the guideBolZlatni rat on the south coast of Brač
Read the guideSplitGateway city 59 km up the coast
Read the guideDubrovnikWalled city at the southern end
Read the guidePlitvice LakesInland park for a separate trip north
Read the guideEES explainedBorder step if your route enters Bosnia
Read the guideAll of CroatiaCoast, islands, Zagreb and entry rules
Read the guideMakarska FAQ
Is Makarska worth visiting?
Yes for a classic Dalmatian beach town with a mountain wall behind it. The promenade, pebble beaches and Biokovo suit a relaxed base. It is less historic than Split or Dubrovnik, so it fits beach time more than sightseeing.
How do I get to the Biokovo Skywalk?
Drive or join a minibus tour up the Biokovo road, 13 km from the park reception and about 30 minutes. Entry is allowed for 20 vehicles every full hour, so arrive near the top of the hour.
When is Biokovo Nature Park open?
The park lists April 7:00 to 19:00, May to August 6:00 to 20:00, September 7:00 to 19:00 and October 8:00 to 18:00, with last entry an hour earlier. It is not officially open from 1 November to 31 March.
Is Makarska a good base for Brač?
Yes, if you want beach time on the mainland and one island day. The Sumartin ferry takes 60 minutes. For several nights on Brač, base on the island instead.
Makarska or Split?
Split offers a Roman palace, museums and ferry choice. Makarska offers a beach town and mountain views with a smaller, calmer center. Many trips use Split for sightseeing and Makarska for two beach nights.